Overflowing Power, Buried Secrets
Things I had to bury. My body was overflowing with power. It wasn't a phrase that suited me at all, but this was the first time in my life I'd felt like this. Right now, I felt like I could smash a boulder barehanded.
Tszzt! Mimicking what Airi and Senior Ines had done, I scattered mana in all directions. The pitch-black space where I couldn't see a thing gradually took on some shape. Adding the red lines to that gave me a real sense of the surroundings. Compared to when I couldn't see anything, it felt so much better. No dizziness, no loss of balance.
My arms and legs... I can feel them perfectly.
I peered into the darkness. Airi was locked in fierce combat. Senior Ines's crows were tumbling with the winged beasts. I took a slow step forward. Memories of stumbling and falling made me cautious, but soon it was one step, two... As I grew confident it was fine, I picked up speed. My steps quickened into a run. I swung my arms wide. Before I knew it, I was sprinting at full tilt.
Slash! I sliced through one of the beast's wings.
"Yufir?"
The darkness didn't feel so scary anymore.
The moment someone weaves their ring, their very presence changes. Yufir, who suddenly charged at the Bloodbat, was wrapped in a color I'd never seen before—a deep crimson ring.
Pop! Yufir leaped up, swinging her dagger. The air split with a whoosh along its trajectory. Her nimble mobility was the same, but the pressure was definitely different now.
"Kyaaak!"
Clang! Clang! Like revving an engine, Yufir slowly circled the Bloodbat. Running, leaping to kick off the walls, then the ceiling. Using every direction—up, down, left, right—in high-speed maneuvers, even a swift beast like the Bloodbat could barely track her with its eyes.
I don't know what Gift you have...
Yufir's movements always aimed for something specific. From the ogre onward, against every beast, she targeted vital points precisely, even if it put her at risk.
"You need an opening, right?"
Airi guessed Yufir's intent and acted on it immediately. She didn't love handing over the spotlight like this—after all, she was always the protagonist—but still.
"Give it a shot!"
Clang! Airi slashed off the Bloodbat's remaining wing, exposing its head. As if she'd been waiting, Yufir dove in.
Stab! The dagger slit its throat right away. As the head hit the floor, she plunged the dagger deep into its brain to finish it off. Airi instantly understood the meaning behind it.
"So they have them too, huh."
Not stopping there, Yufir charged at the next Bloodbat. Airi followed alongside in support. She tore into the wing of a Bloodbat perched on a crow above. Even in a mine, giving up aerial advantage was handing over first strike.
Slash! As if they'd rehearsed, Yufir and Airi each took a wing, shredding them so it couldn't fly anymore. Then Airi drew its attention and disrupted its balance, letting Yufir slip in and sever the throat. And with her unique sense, she killed the parasite too. The last Bloodbat was no different.
"Look at these rookies go?"
Ines laughed in disbelief. Their performance far exceeded what you'd expect from cleanup agents. It wouldn't be wrong to say they'd already surpassed expectations.
Airi was a given—all-around talent—but Yufir, personality aside... If someone managed her surroundings, her explosive potential might rank among the top of their cohort.
"Yufir..."
Airi supported the staggering Yufir.
"Ugh, I feel like I'm gonna pass out soon."
"Huh? Oh, uh... then..."
As Airi floundered, Yufir made a simple demand.
"Carry me."
"..."
Airi, who'd never piggybacked anyone in her life, scratched her cheek.
"I-I don't know how to..."
"Just support my butt."
Ines shouted for them to move out now, and in the end, Airi ended up carrying the wobbly Yufir.
She's so light.
Airi fidgeted with the unfamiliar sensation, Yufir squirming on her back. Maybe because she was so short, Yufir was featherweight.
"Ehehe, Airi smells nice."
"...Don't sniff."
We stayed in the village two more days. During that time, the unconscious miners woke up, and Senior Ines confronted the village chief directly, uncovering the full story.
"W-We committed a grave sin!"
The chief knelt and begged, claiming they had no choice, banging his head on the ground.
"We had no options... A woman with a whip brought a horde of beasts and threatened to take most of the mana stone mine's output for her group."
Of course, everyone opposed at first. But after a few fierce objectors became beast food, they had no choice but to comply. And once they did, the money rolled in better than expected, so no one opposed anymore.
"You can't avoid punishment."
Even so, diverting state shipments was fact. Ines explained that while coercion would be taken into account after investigation, they wouldn't escape entirely.
And as we prepared to leave, the Empire's Central Knight Order arrived.
Clank. Clank.
Soldiers marched into the village, the lead knight in a uniform emblazoned with a golden lion emblem.
"Gael."
"Ines."
Senior Ines and the knight shook hands and talked. She'd reported via messenger bird to HQ, and this was the follow-up knight detachment.
"We'll handle the rest."
"Yes, please do."
Now we just had to leave Aken Village.
"Lady Airi."
But the knight recognized Airi and dropped to one knee.
"Gael..."
"It's been too long."
He placed a hand over his heart in formal greeting. I watched from behind, murmuring ooh.
The way the knight treated Airi was no joke.
"Does agency work suit you?"
"Yeah, it feels like I was born for this."
"I see."
They seemed to know each other from before. Well, with Enposhium being the Sword Saint's lineage, it'd be weirder if knights didn't know Airi.
"We await your return anytime, Lady Airi."
Gasp. I covered my mouth in shock. Even if our agents were poaching openly like this... Ines smiled awkwardly—it wasn't something to say in front of us.
"Don't wait. I'm not going."
"But Lord Hailrn..."
"It's got nothing to do with my father."
Airi cut off the higher-ranking knight and turned away, hurrying past Ines and me.
"Let's go—we've got a train to catch."
Ines and I gave awkward smiles, bowed to the knight, and followed.
Clunk. Clunk.
Like on the way out, we boarded the train again. Before, mission nerves had me too tense to notice, but now the scenery outside struck me as breathtakingly beautiful.
"I'll grab some drinks."
Senior Ines stood up briefly.
"Juice for me!"
"I'm good."
"Haha, alright."
She headed to another car. Meanwhile, tension drained from my body, and yawns came nonstop.
"Huaaah."
"Yufir, aren't you yawning too much?"
"In the village, I never relaxed once, so maybe the fatigue's hitting all at once..."
My head grew heavy for no reason.
"Ack."
"Y-Yufir?"
I tilted my head onto Airi's lap as a pillow. Being short had its perks—even lying across the seat left space. Airi flailed, unsure where to put her hands. It was so cute I smirked and closed my eyes.
A gentle breeze wafted in; loosening up even a bit made me drowsy. But passing out after asking for juice would be rude, so I shouldn't—huuaaaah.
"Yufir."
"Mmm...?"
I started drifting off. Airi's voice faded.
"Someday, when I have to reveal my story, you'll be the first I tell."
"Yeah..."
"I think you'd understand."
Rustle. Rustle.
She brushed my bangs with her fingertips. The ticklish touch lured me deeper into sleep.
"Being the Sword Saint's daughter isn't all that great, really."
"Mmm..."
I fell asleep. And in doing so, I coincidentally recalled something I'd forgotten about Enposhium—the Sword Saint.
Where had I heard that name? Truth was, I'd known since reincarnating here. More precisely, right before entering this damn dark fantasy game.
It was important info, sure, but useless to me in this frail body, so I'd buried it. If the day came when I could shine in this world, it'd surface naturally. That's how lightly I'd taken it.
Uh... what was it? Oh, right. Something like this.
He'd said that one tip would avoid at least half the bad ends. I understood why I'd buried the memory, but recalling it now felt... chilling.
The Sword Saint was a hero, right? The empire's guardian of peace. Airi's family. Kill him? It didn't make sense.
I still knew so little about this world. But one thing was certain: the fact that I had to kill the Sword Saint remained buried deep in my heart.
The empire's north sees winter fastest—and it lingers longest. Snow blankets most of the year, making it harsh. But it's not unlivable. The Northern Archduke developed the barren land masterfully, building a fine city at the center.
Why bring this up? We're in the north now. Though not the city—off in the snowy mountains a ways... which is a big problem.
"Run!"
At Instructor Blackrose's command, we dashed through the snowfields. Thud, thud—feet sank, movement tough, but no slacking. Bundled in coats, earmuffs, gloves... the chill wouldn't quit.
"Uwaaah! Uwaaah!"
As expected, I was dead last in this mountains training too. I'd gained some stamina, got cocky, and now intensity ramped up daily. From capital to northern snow peaks? They're trying to kill me!
Thud. I collapsed spread-eagle in the snow.
"Hmph, below par, Ppikak."
The harsh new environment was separate from stamina gains.
"Urk..."
"Extra training. Resume after rest."
Groans from the others.
"Up you go."
I looked up; Bina smiled brightly, offering a hand. Airi followed, chuckling softly.
"Haa, no personal time today either."
With Bina's help, I stood, snorted dramatically, and cleared snow from my nostrils.
"S-Sorry about that!"
And so, our training camp life raced toward its end.